Museum of Royal Worcester
Severn Street
Worcester WR1 2ND
Tel: 01905 21247
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This extraordinary pair of vases were designed for the 1878 Paris International Exhibition and were the highlight of the Royal Worcester exhibit of that year. The vases use the novel idea of making pottery tell its own story. They feature sunken scenes modelled in deep relief by the talented James Hadley showing the potter at work on ceramic processes of throwing, modelling, decorating, and firing, imagined in a 16th century Italian Renaissance workshop. On the sides of the vases are the heads of Renaissance artists Luca Della Robbia, Maestro Giorgio, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
R. W. Binns and Hadley took inspiration from the 1877 poem ‘Keramos the Potter’ by Longfellow, which emphasises the labour, passion and frustrations of the potter driven by his vision. The factory published a booklet ‘The Poetry of Pottery’ to accompany the vases illustrated with pictures of the four sides. The original vases, gilded in coloured metals by Josiah Davis, were sold on the spot. This second pair of vases were made to display Worcester’s skills and successes at home and were decorated in Raphaelesque colours after Italian maiolica pottery of the 15th and 16th century.
In Paris in 1878 Worcester was awarded the gold medal, and their Art Director, R.W. Binns, received the Cross of the Legion of Honour.
Original postcard from the Paris Exhibition 1878 showing the Trocadero Palace. The size of the exhibition exceeded those to date in Paris, covering 66 acres.
Elevation of the Trocadero Palace, Facing the River Seine, a 'Mooresque' style building which housed the Paris Exhibition 1878. Illustration by Frederick Dangerfield.
Principal facade of the Champs de Mars, facing the River Seine, one of the buildings housing the Paris Exhibition 1878. Illustration by Frederick Dangerfield.
Illustrations of the Potters Vases in the Paris Exhibition 1878 catalogue, p. 47.
Potter's Vases catalogue entry from 'Catalogue of a Collection of Worcester Porcelain in The Museum of the Royal Porcelain Works' by R. W. Binns, 1882, p. 183.
The poem 'Keramos, the Potter' by Longfellow, 1877, illustrated by the Potter's Vases, from 'The Poetry of Pottery' by R. W. Binns, pp. 28-29. This published booklet was displayed alongside the vases in the exhibition to explain it's poetic source.
The poem 'Keramos, the Potter' by Longfellow, 1877, illustrated by the Potter's Vases, from 'The Poetry of Pottery' by R. W. Binns, pp. 30-31. This published booklet was displayed alongside the vases in the exhibition to explain it's poetic source.
The poem 'Keramos, the Potter' by Longfellow, 1877, illustrated by the Potter's Vases, from 'The Poetry of Pottery' by R. W. Binns, pp. 32-33. This published booklet was displayed alongside the vases in the exhibition to explain it's poetic source.
The poem 'Keramos, the Potter' by Longfellow, 1877, illustrated by the Potter's Vases, from 'The Poetry of Pottery' by R. W. Binns, pp. 34-35. This published booklet was displayed alongside the vases in the exhibition to explain it's poetic source.
Conclusive notes to the poem 'Keramos, the Potter' by Longfellow, 1877, with a list of the artists involved in the Potter's Vases. From 'The Poetry of Pottery' by R. W. Binns, pp. 36-37.
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